Mountain Home for Holidays

It was a turning point in my life when my son, Aaryan, was diagnosed with obesity. My wife and I lead busy lives. My wife, Samiksha, is a sort of a media mogul, while I am a partner in an investment firm. While a double income affluent household is the modern Indian dream for many, we have had our own struggles to grapple with; chief amongst which is making sure that Aaryan gets a safe and healthy environment at home.

Aaryan was still a long way from crossing the threshold of teenage years and yet was declared medically obese. This moment was our wakeup call as parents. Samiksha and I began to reevaluate our lives and our physical environment. In the guilt of not giving time to our only son, we had catered to all his whims and fancies. Aaryan spent most of his time flitting from one device to another that contributed to his sedentary lifestyle.

We felt an immense need to retreat and re-examine the choices we had made as city dwellers and the repercussions of those choices on our son. Apart from this, year 2020 had too been a year of deep reflection as we got to spend a lot of time indoors together and we noticed how much Aaryan is missing out. Especially for Samiksha, who was a daughter of an army officer and had fond memories of her active and peripatetic lifestyle, this was no longer acceptable. One evening when we watched smog blanket the cityscape from our window, a thought surfaced in Samiksha’s mind – what if we could move a part of the year somewhere that is close to nature. Giving up our careers, and the city we were established (and doing so well)in,is inconceivable at this point. Her suggestion seemed like a reasonable middle ground.

When the intent is in place, life synchronizes. My colleague, whose cholesterol was on the rise and who had recently moved to the mountains, shared with me the news of his improving health and mood. Inspired by him, we too were on a look out for a timeshare property somewhere in scenic nature. Life after all is an algorithm of choices, the mindful ones lead us closer to our selves – and hence we made our choice. We chose Kasauli, a quaint hill town in the state of Himanchal Pradesh, 60 minutes’ drive from Chandigarh. Instead of a quick getaway, we decided that we would have a staycation, a more of an immersive experience to recuperate and redesign some aspects of our lives and give Aaryan what he had been missing out – the joy of spending time in nature.

In Kasuali, through some friends (who had bought a home there) came the suggestion of going with Sushma Elementa– a holiday home in the lush mountains. Blessed with pristine mornings and resplendent sunsets, Elementa is sprawled across 6 acres of mountain forests.

Breathing in the fresh mountain air and working from an environment that is not only healthy but also invigorating and inspiring, I already feel years younger than my age. A perfect respite from the pollution, heat and chaotic urban scapes, Kasauli offered our family a sense of wellbeing. In this fertile solitude, Samiksha took up her long parked endeavors which included video editing and 2D animation. The most striking transformation was Aaryan’s –whose days, slumped over various electronic devices, were replaced with a free abandon of childhood. We noticed that he has begun to be more active and more social. Our son has found a creative community with the other children who live in Sushma Elementa where each day he looks forward to exploring the nature around the property. He has now reduced his screen time to half hour every day. This involuntary digital detox was a blessing in disguise. Now that we are packing our bags to get back to our normal city lives, Aaryan is making plans to build a treehouse on the gulmohar tree in our front lawn. Of course, we will gladly indulge him.

In winters, this pristine hamlet is an ideal place to retreat, our family often sits back and enjoys the views of the snow covered hills that imbue a sense of hygge. Such an immersive experience in nature has had immense therapeutic effects on us. The other day, we went out forshinrin-yoku or forest bathing and came back deeply relaxed.

Nestled amid the forest with views of the hills, Sushma Elementa is our perfect home away from home. Its conceptually designed living spaces, managed by Sarovar Portico group, look into sunlit forests that is home to birds and myriad flora. Set in immaculate nature with luxurious spaces, the presence of Elementa Leisure Homes seems almost serendipitous. Equipped with outstanding amenities and facilities, the living spaces are mindfully designed so that each apartment has a stunning valley view. A sense of landscape seems to reflect in the tastefully designed interiors, creating a continuum of calm and tranquility – pure luxury in the lap of nature. Whether escaping scorching summers or hiemal blues, Sushma Elementa offers a sanctuary of serenity.

Near the property, Aaryan loves to meander through the pine forests lit with coins of sunlight. Within the premises itself, many spaces for hobbies and activities keep him creatively occupied. Samiksha frequents the yoga retreat located within the property, during our time here, to center herself after long hours in front of the screen.

As for me, I love exploring nearby attractions and try to learn about the rich local culture. On rainy days, there are plenty of options while staying indoors. The property is benefitted with a club lobby, a billiards room, a play area for the kids, a state of the art gym, meditation areas and lounges. Our holiday home at Sushma Elementa, is a blessing in a true sense.

Where:

A little more than an hour’s drive from Chandigarh, Kasauli is a quaint hill town in the state of Himanchal Pradesh. The town is situated at 6000 feet above sea level.

About Sushma Group:

Sushma Group is a dynamic and rapidly growing Real Estate Development organization based in Chandigarh, whose credibility has grown multifold since inception. Reputed to be a benchmark and a leader in the industry, the group is focused on delivering the highest standards of quality to its discerning clientele.